Misleading reports that Pluto was about to lose its status as a planet in January 1999 caused an unexpected public uproar and a subsequent stir over the planet’s standing in the astronomical community. The flap began when some of the national media announced that Pluto was going to be reclassified as a minor planet or, even worse, a lowly asteroid. Although the proposal turned out to be false, the publicity generated by the media hype left many people confused about Pluto’s official classification....

Rankings are an inherently dangerous business. Whether offering a hierarchy of countries, cities, or colleges, any such list – at least any such list worth compiling – is likely to generate a fair amount of debate. In the last issue, when we asked readers to vote for their picks of the world’s top public intellectuals, we imagined many people would want to make their opinions known. But no one expected the avalanche of voters who came forward....

Parts of the Southwest once belonged to Mexico. The United States obtained this land following the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. Its Mexican heritage continues to exert a strong influence on the region, which is a convenient place to settle for immigrants (legal or illegal) from farther south. The regional population is growing rapidly, with Arizona in particular rivaling the southern states as a destination for retired Americans in search of a warm climate....

More from America’s Favorite Structures

Australopithecus, also called “southern ape,” lived in Africa in 3 million B.C. Some were the size of modern people; others were as small as chimpanzees. Their heads were apelike with low foreheads, flat noses, and jutting jaws. “Lucy” was a complete australopithecus found in Ethiopia in 1974. (She was named for the Beatles’ song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” which was playing in the camp when she was excavated....

States Quickly Pass Restrictive Voting Laws Fallout from the ruling was swift, with several states quickly moving to change their voting laws. Texas unveiled a redistricting plan and enacted a law that requires voters to present identification before casting a ballot. North Carolina passed the nation’s most restrictive voting law in August. The law contains dozens of measures that will certainly discourage voting. The most draconian provisions included: requiring a photo ID to vote, banning counties from extending voting hours due to extraordinary events, eliminating pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds, eliminating the state’s same-day voter registration program, no longer allowing provisional voting if someone goes to the wrong precinct, shortening the early-voting period, and instituting a photo identification requirement....

Related Links Iraq PrimerPersian Gulf WarMilitary AffairsLost Islands of the WorldTerritories, Colonies, and Dependencies There are times, however, when the U.S. military has considered this 17-square-mile atoll of coral and sand in the middle of the Indian Ocean one of the most valuable pieces of real estate on Earth. A British Territory, Leased to the United States The Portuguese explored Diego Garcia in the 1500s (it is named for a Portuguese navigator)....

The Crusades (1096–1291) In 1095 at Council of Clermont, Pope Urban II calls for war to rescue Holy Land from Muslim infidels. The First Crusade (1096) is assembled in response to Emperor Alexius I. The Christians capture Antioch (1098) and Jerusalem (1099). They establish the Crusader States, ruled by Europeans. It is the only successful crusade. The Second Crusade begins after the Seljuk Turks recapture Edessa, one of the Crusader States, in 1144....

Mutualism: both partners benefit. An example of a mutualistic relationship between the Egyptian plover and the crocodile. In the tropical regions of Africa, the crocodile lies with its mouth open. The plover flies into its mouth and feeds on bits of decaying meat stuck in the crocodile’s teeth. The crocodile does not eat the plover. Instead, he appreciates the dental work. The plover eats a meal and the crocodile gets his teeth cleaned....

Click Clack Moo by Doreen Cronin and Betsy LewinThings are never the same after Farmer Brown’s cows get their hooves on an old typewriter—and start to send him demanding memos.D’Aulaire’s Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’AulaireThis classic work pairs dramatic and often funny tales of love, magic, greed, and trickery with unforgettable illustrations.Eloise by Kay Thompson and Hilary KnightEloise lives in the Plaza Hotel, where she pours water down the mail chute, “sklathes” along the halls, and scams treats by pretending she is an orphan....

Starting in 1956, Constitution Week was added, celebrating the Constitution from September 17 through September 23. At the end of 2004, it was decided to redesignate September 17 as “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day,” adding the additional observance of holding educational programs on the United States Constitution in all publicly-funded schools. More about the United States Constitution

Anyone who has invested in the stock market - and that’s a whopping 43% of American households - can tell you that the American economy is not an island unto itself. Even those who had invested only in blue chip American stocks found themselves on a roller coaster ride in 1998. The Dow gained more than 1,400 points in the first seven months of the year then lost 1,800 points in just 6 weeks, due in large part to global financial instability....